Cut size paper handling machine



Oct. 1, 1963 c. w. MAGNUSON 3,105,598

CUT SIZE PAPER HANDLING MACHINE Original Filed July 30, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. CARL W. MAGN U SON BY w; a, w @J l/ ATT RNEYS Oct. 1, 1963 c. w. MAGNUSON CUT SIZE PAPER HANDLING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed July 30, 1959 MGR INVENTOR. CARL W. MAGNUSON ATTO RNEYS Oct. 1, 1963 c. w. MAGNUSON 3,105,598

CUT SIZE PAPER HANDLING MACHINE Original Filed July 30, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 1"76. 20 -Y INVENTOR.

CARL W. M'AGNUSON Get. 1, 1963 c. w. MAGNUSON 3,

CUT SIZE PAPER HANDLING MACHINE, Original Filed July 30, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG 6 INVENTOR. CARL w. MAGNUSON (Z/Q1 AZWW' w. M,A*T%EYS Oct. 1, 1963 c. w. MAGNUSON CUT SIZE PAPER HANDLING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed July 30, 1959 m wt FTT TW 'lllll. rl

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INVENTOR. CARL W. MAGNUSON ATTORNEYS Oct. 1, 1963 c. w MAGNUSON 3,105,598

CUT SIZE PAPER HANDLING MACHINE Original Filed July- 30, 1959 1 sheetsfisheet 6 203 02 F/G'. //A

22 INVENTOR.

CARL w. MAGNUSON Z 7 .BY

. Y A TORNEYS Oct. 1, 1963 c. w. MAGNUSON 3,

CUT SIZE PAPER HANDLING MACHINE Original Filed July 50, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 x & mt 8m .3 mt m w mm 6w mww 0mm on u m Hi" IYHL NI (s CARL w. MAGNUSON BY M/ Q ATTo E BM 5m 5m :N 8m 3w HM HM 8- n I Rm mmm mmm mmw mm mmm Oct. 1, 1963 c. w. MAGNUSON CUT SIZE PAPER HANDLING MACHINE 1o Sheets-Sheet 8 Original Filed July 50, 1959 mom 3N NNN MNN OWN INVENTOR. CAR L W. MAGNUSON ATTORNEYS Oct. 1, 1963 c. w. MAGNUSON 3, 8

CUT SIZE PAPER HANDLING MACHINE Original Filed July 30, 1959 l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR. CARL W. MAGNUSON Oct. 1, 1963 c. w. MAGNUSON CUT SIZE PAPER HANDLING MACHINE Original Filed July 30, 1959 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 NOM NmN

mm Q wow INVENTOR.

CARL w. MAGNUSON BY k.

ATTO RNEYS United States Patent 11 Claims. (Cl. 214-85) This invention relates to improvements in machines for handling paper and the like and is a divisional application of my application Serial No. 830,596, filed July 30, 1959, and entitled Cut Size Paper Hmdling Machine and now Patent No. 3,085,677, dated April 16, 1963.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a simplified and improved machine for straightening and inverting blocks of cut size paper and separating the blocks of paper into individual reams.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved form of paper handling device wherein a pocketed =wheel receives blocks of paper from a trimmer or the like and straightens and inverts the blocks of paper and delivers individual blocks of paper for splitting into reams, and wherein an elevating platform elevates the individual blocks of paper in fixed relation with respect to a paper receiving surface in stages, to accommodate a block of paper of a thickness equal to the thickness of a ream to be pushed onto the paper receiving surface, in an automatic ream splitting operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a s mplified and efilcient form of apparatus for dividing blocks of paper into reams in which the blocks of paper are elevated in stages and ream splitting pushers are provided for separating the block into reams.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cut size paper handling machine arranged with a View toward straightening and depositing blocks of paper for splitting into individual reams, and having automatic means for splitting the blocks of paper into reams, storing the reams of paper and discharging the stored reams of paper for wrapping, in which all of the operations are interlocked and automatically controlled to effect the continuous discharge of reams of paper with little or no attention from the operator of the machine.

These and other objects of the invention will appear from time to time as the following specification proceeds and With reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a paper handling machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of a ream straightening and transfer wheel for straightening, inverting and discharging the blocks of paper for splitting into individual reams;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary end view of the transfer wheel shown in FIGURE 2 and showing certain details of the drive to the ejectors for the transfer wheel pockets;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line IV-IV of FIGURE 3 and showing certain other details of the ejector drive not shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken sub stantially along line V-V of FIGURE 2, and showing still other details of the ejector drive not shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary front end View of the machine looking at the machine from the transfer Wheel, with the transfer wheel and certain other parts removed in order to illustrate certain details of the elevator for the blocks of paper;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view show ing the transfer table, transfer car and elevators for the blocks of paper;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially along line VIII-VIII of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary end view of the transfer table and elevator;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the ream splitter with certain parts of the apparatus broken away;

FIGURE 11 is a view in side elevation of the ream splitter shown in FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 11A is a fragmentary view in side elevation somewhat similar to FIGURE 11 and showing the ream splitter in the operation of splitting a block of paper into a ream and pushing the ream onto the magazine of the machine;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional View taken substantially along line XII-XII of FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a plan view of the forward end portion of the machine, showing the storage magazines, ejectors for ejecting reams of paper from the storage magazine, and the pushers for pushing the ejected reams of paper for further operations;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line XIVXIV of FIGURE 13 and show ing certain details of the adjusting means, for adjusting the width of the storage magazine;

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line XV--XV of FIGURE 13 and showing certain details of one of the ejectors for ejecting reams of paper from the storage magazine;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line XVI-XVI of FIGURE 13 and showing certain details of one of the pushers, for pushing ejected reams of paper for trans-fer for further operations thereon;

FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary end view of the machine, showing the drive to the magazine ejectors;

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the forward end portion of the apparatus, with certain parts thereof shown in horizontal section, illustrating the adjusting means for adjusting the magazines for various lengths of paper;

FIGURE 19 is a diagrammatic view diagrammatically showing the fluid pressure operating devices and control connections thereto for controlling certain operations of the machine;

FIGURE 20 is a fragmentary plan view of the magazine, illustrating one of the air valves in the bottom plate of the magazine;

FIGURE 21 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line XXIXX[ of FIGURE 20; and

FIGURE 22 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the positions of certain of the limit switches controlling certain operations of the machine. I

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, I have diagrammatically shown in FIGURE 1 a trimmer blade 10 for trimming a block of paper 11. I have also diagrammatically shown a pusher 12 pushing the block of paper into a pocket 13 of a paper straighening, inverting and transfer wheel 15, shown in FIGURE 2.

A transfer car 24 moves the blocks of paper along the transfer table 17 in either direction onto elevating platforms 21 or 22 of the ream splitters 19. The table and elevating platforms are elevated in two stages to accommodate pusher plates 23 of the ream splitters 19', to first push a portion of the block of paper onto a magazine 25 upon a first stage of elevation of the elevator, and to then push the remaining portion of the block of paper onto said magazine upon a second stage of elevation of the elevator, splitting the block of paper into two reams of equal size.

The paper inverting, straightening and transfer wheel is shown and described in detail in my parent application Serial No. 830,596 so need only be shown and described herein in sufiicient detail to make my present invention readily understandable. The transfer wheel 15 has two laterally spaced connected circular disks or plates 32, forming side plates for the wheel and having the pockets 13 disposed therebetween. The transfer wheel 15 is keyed or otherwise secured to a transverse drive shaft 33 suitably journalled in a main frame 34 for the machine, and driven by an indexing drive device 35.

The indexing drive device 35 may be of a type having a long interval of dwell with a positive lock in each indexing position, such as the model TPA-4 ferguson drive manufactured by Ferguson Machine Corporation of Indiana, and no part of the present invention so not herein shown or described in detail. The indexing drive device is driven by a motor 36, which may be a well known form of gear motor having reduction gearing contained in the casing thereof. The motor 36 drives the indexing device 35 through a one revolution clutch and brake unit 37, which also may be a well known form of electric clutch and brake unit, and no part of the present invention so not herein shown or described further.

The drive shaft 33 is driven step by step by the indexing device 35' through spaced couplings 38 and a connecting shaft 39. The motor 36 and one revolution clutch and brake unit 37 may be energized under the control of the pusher 12, to index the wheel 15, to bring an empty pocket 13 into receiving relation with respect to the cutter 10, a next preceding pocket 13 into an upright jogging or straightening position and a third pocket 13 into a horizontal discharge position, in position to discharge a block of paper onto the transfer table 17.

Between the plates 32 are mounted a plurality of laterally spaced chordal ways 42 forming guides for racks 43 for actuating the pushers 16. The chordal ways 42 are mounted in parallel spaced relation with respect to spaced plates 44 forming one wall or vane of an associated pocket 13. The space between the plates 44 forms a slot or guide for a tongue 45, extending from the pusher 16 and suitably secured to an associated rack 43. The pusher -16has spaced fingers 46, guided between spaced plates 47. The plates 47 are spaced in advance of the plates 43 of the associated pocket 13, and form an advance wall or vane of the associated pocket 13. The plates 47 are mounted on the inner end of an adjustable bracket or support 49, which may be a casting and is shown in FIG- URE 2 as being generally triangular in end View, and serves to adjust the associated pocket in accordance with the thickness of the block of paper to be placed therein, as shown and described in application Serial No. 830,596 so not herein shown or described further.

The racks 43 for actuating the pushers 16 are meshed with pinions (not shown) on transverse shafts 76. The shafts 76 as shown in FIGURE 4 extend outwardly of an end plate 32 and are suitably journalled therein on hearing supports '77. Each shaft 76 has a drive member 7! on the outer end thereof, movable within a driving socket 80 in an enlarged inner end portion 81 of a drive shaft 83. The drive member 79 has opposite walls 84 and 85 conforming to arcs struck from radii extending through the center of rotation of the wheel 15, and conforming to opposite inner walls of the drive socket 8d. The drive socket St} opens to opposite sides thereof to receive the drive member 79, each time the wheel 15 is will actuate the valve 96 to stop rotation of the motor 7 4 indexed to move the pocket 13 associated with said drive member into a paper block transferring position. The drive member '79 is maintained in position to enter the rive socket Si) by two spaced followers 86 on the end of said drive member, and riding along a circular camming face 87 of a cam disk 88 (FIGURES 4 and 5). The cam disk has a recessed portion 8? for receiving the drive socket 80.

It should here be understoodthat after an ejector 16 has been moved outwardly to an ejecting position, and.

has then been returned to its innermost position, that as the wheel 15 is rotatably driven by the motor 36, to be indexed to a next succeeding paper block transferring position, that the drive socket is stopped in position to receive a next succeeding drive member 79 by holding pressure on a drive motor d5, rotatably driving said socket, as will hereinafter more clearly appear as this specification proceeds. The cam followers 86, riding along the camming face 87 of the disk 83 will maintain the drive members 79 in position to engage within the socket 80 each complete cycle of rotation thereof, it being understood that when one drive member 79 leaves a socket 89, that the next succeeding drive member will be cammed into position to enter said socket and will enter said socket to be driven therefrom when the wheel 15 has been indexed to a paper block transferring position.

The shaft 83 is shown in FIGURE 4 as being jour nalled in spaced bearings 99 and as having a spur gear 91 keyed or otherwise secured to the end thereof. The spur gear 91 in turn meshes with a spur gear 93 keyed or otherwise secured to a motor shaft 94, of the motor 95. The motor 95 may be a reversible fluid operated motor, such as an air motor and is driven in one direction to move the ejector 16 outwardly to eject a block of paper from an associated pocket 13, and is then reversed to As shown in FIGURE 3 a stop 82 projects axially of the gear 93 and engages a switch arm 92 of a switch 92a, actuating the valve 96 to reverse the direction of the motor 95 when the ejector 16 has been moved to its extreme outward position. The gear 93 will then be rotated to engage a switch arm 98 of a switch 98a. This 95 when the ejector is in its extreme inner position. Pressure on the motor 95 then holds the socket 80 in position to receive a next succeeding drive member 79.

The transfer table 17, as shown in FIGURES 1, 6, 7

spaced screw jacks 136. The screw jacks are mounted i on platforms 131, supported on the main frame structure I 3 for the machine. A hand crank 133 on one side of the machine is provided to operate the screw jacks 130 through a shaft 135, a coupling 136, a coupling shaft 137 and couplings 139 at opposite ends thereof, coupling the screw jacks together. The screw jacks 130 may be of any well known form, and are no part of the present "invention so need not herein be shown or described in detail. i

The two elevating platforms 21 and 22 at opposite ends of the transfer table 17 are mounted on individual two stage fluid operated jacks 101 for individually elevating the elevator platforms 21 and 22 in two stages as blocks of paper are alternately deposited thereon by the transfer car 20. As shown in FIGURE 6, the two stage jacks 1111 are mounted on bases 103, adjacent opposite ends of the frame structure 1011.

Each two stage jack 1111 includes a lower cylinder 104 having a piston 105 movable therealong and having a piston rod 1% extending therefrom and extensible from the cylinder 184. A fluid cylinder 167 is mounted on the end of the piston rod 166 on top of the cylinder 104 on a depending head 199, mounted on the upper end of the piston rod 1%. The cylinder 107 has a piston 110 movable therealong having a piston rod 111 extending therefrom and extensible from the piston rod end of the cylinder 1137. The piston rod 111 is mounted in a cap 112, abutting the bottom of an elevator platform 21. Spaced elevator guides 113 extending downwardly from the cap 112 along opposite sides of the cylinders 1M and 1&7 and within a retainer 114, mounted on and spaced outwardly of the cylinder 164.

An adjustment leverage arrangement 115 is provided for adjusting the position of the cylinder 107 in accordance with position of adjustment of the transfer table 17 and the thickness of the ream to be split, to cause the piston rod 111 to raise the associated elevator platform a distance equal to the distance from the top of the stack of sheets to the plane of the magazine 25 plus half the thickness of the stack of sheets during the first stage of elevation of the transfer table 17. The adjustment leverage arrangement 115 includes a lever 116 extending through a slot 117 in the head 109 and pivotally con nected to the head 1139 intermediate its ends, on a horizontal pivot pin 119.

The outer end of the lever 116 is pivotally connected to a pivot link 1211 by a pivot pin 121 extending within a slot 122 extending upwardly along said link. The link 12!) in turn is pivotally connected to a support 123 on a pivot pin 124. The support 123 is stationary and is mounted on the main frame 34. The opposite end of the lever 116 is pivotally connected to a link 125 on a pivot pin 126 extending within a slot 127 extending upwardly along said link. The link 125 is pivotally connected at its upper end to the frame structure 181) on a pivot pin 129 and moves vertically upon vertical adjustment of the frame structure 101? and transfer table 17.

When it is desired to elevate either of the elevator platforms 21 and 22, fluid under pressure is admitted to the head end of the associated cylinder 107 under the control of an" associated valve 294. This will extend the piston rod 111 with respect to said cylinder and lift the elevator platform for the adjusted length of stroke of the piston rod 111 adjusted in accordance with the position of adjustment of the transfer table 17, and the thickness of the :block of paper thereon.

At the end of the forward stroke of the piston rod 111, the cylinder 1117 will have moved upwardly a distance equal to the distance from the top sheet of the block of paper to the plane of the magazine plus one-half the thickness of the block of paper on the elevator platform. The elevator platform will then be in position to accommodate the associated ream splitter pusher 23 to divide a block of paper into a ream, and to push the ream onto an associated magazine 25.

After the pushing of the ream onto the magazine 25, fluid under pressure will be admitted to the head end of the associated cylinder 104 under the control of the associated valve 299, to elevate the piston 195 and the piston rod 1% raising the cylinder 107 and associated elevator platforms to the level of the receiving ends of the associated magazines 25 to accommodate the associated ream splitter pusher 23 to push a ream of paper onto the associated magazine.

The transfer car 26, for transferring a block of paper along the table 17 to either of the elevator platforms 21 or 22, includes a pusher arm or plate 140 extending upwardly of the top of the transfer table 17 and downwardly beneath the support structure for said table. The pusher arm or plate 140 has a rail 141 extending inwardly therefrom having a T-shaped head engageable Within a T- slot 142, mounted in a guide bar 143 mounted on the bottom of the frame structure and extending therealong (FIGURE 8). The plate has a pusher plate 144 extending inwardly of one end thereof along the top of the table 17, and has an inwardly extending plate 145 extending parallel to the top of the table and having a slot 146 extending therealong. The slot 146 forms an adjustable mounting for an adjustable pusher 147, extending beneath the plate 145 and having parallel arms 149 extending therefrom having upright pusher end portions 150. The adjustable pusher 1-47 is adjustably secured to the plate 145 as by a bolt 151 extending upwardly through the slot 146 and having a wing nut 153 threaded thereon.

The pusher plate 144- thus pushes the block of paper along the transfer table 17 onto the elevator 21 upon movement of the transfer car along the transfer table 17 in one direction, while the adjustable pusher arms push a block of paper along the transfer table 17 onto the elevator platform 22 upon the reversal in the direction of travel of the transfer car 20'.

It will be noted from FIGURE 7 that the pusher arms 149 and upright pusher end portions 15! thereof move into parallel spaced slots 154 in the elevator plate 22, to accommodate the transfer car to push a block of paper into engagement with a stop plate 155 at the outer end thereof.

The elevator plate 21 is provided with parallel slots 156 extending inwardly from the outer end thereof, forming guides for the legs of a generally U-shaped stop 157. The U-shaped stop 157 extends upwardly from a plate 159 guided in gibbed guides 160*, extending alongan end platform 161 mounted on the top of the main frame 34 for the machine (FIGURE 6). A nut 163- extends outwardly from the plate 159 and has an adjustment screw 164 threaded therein. .The adjustment screw 164 is rotatably mounted in a bearing boss 165 extending upwar'dly from the end platform 161 and is suitably retained from axial movement with respect to said bearing boss. A Wheel 166 on the outer end of the adjustment screw 164 is provided to adjust the stop in accordance with the length of paper being split into reams. It should here be noted that since the pusher arms 149 and pusher end portions 1511 move within the slots 154 and are adjustably movable with respect to the plate 145, and since the stops 157 are adjustable, that the transfer car may push :blocks of paper onto and along either platform 21 or 22 to the stops on the outer ends thereof, wihout changing the length of travel of said transfer car. 7

A reversible fluid operated motor 167 is provided to move the transfer car 20 along the transfer table 17 in opposite directions. Operation of the motor is shown in FIGURE 19 as being controlled by a solenoid operated valve, generally indicated by reference character 169. The motor 167 has a motor shaft 171' having a pulley 173 on the end thereof. The pulley 173 has spaced grooves 174 in the face thereof about which are trained opposite end portions of a flexible cable 175. One end portion of the flexible cable 175 is secured to the outer side of the pulley 173 as indicated by reference character 176. The opposite end portion of the cable 175 is secured to the inner side of the pulley. 173 in a similar manner (not shown )7. The flexible cable 173 is trained about laterally spaced sheaves 179, mounted on the back of the elevating frame structure 100, on shafts 180'. The cable 175' is shown in FIGURE 8 as being secured to a lip 1'8-1 extending inwardly of the pusher arm or plate 140 to reversely move the pusher arm or plate 140 along the transfer table 17 in ac,- condance with the direction of rotation of the motor 167.

Referring now in particular to FIGURES l, 10, 11 and 12 and the ream splitters 19, said ream splitters are each of a similar construction so one only need herein be shown and described in detail. Each ream splitter 19 includes a support bar 131 supported at its rear end on the main frame 34- for the machine, and extending over the associated elevator platform 21 or 22 longitudinally of the magazine 25 and terminating at said magazine. The support bar 181 has spaced brackets 184 depending from the rear end portion thereof, forming a support for a double acting fluid operated cylinder 185. The cylinder 185 has a piston rod 186 extensible therefrom, extending within a connector 187, extending rearwardly of a slide 189 forming a support for the pusher plate 23. The slide 189 has gibbed guides 19d slidably engaging opposite sides of a guide plate 191. Fluid under pressure, such as air, is admitted .to the head or piston rod end of the cylcinder 185 under the control of a solenoid controlled valve 193, operated to admit fluid under pressure to the head end of the cylinder 185 as a block of paper is on an associated elevator platform and is elevated into position by the elevator platform to be split by operation of the associated ream splitter 19, and to admit fluid under pressure to the piston rod end of the cylinder 185, to return the slide 189 and pusher 23, at the end of the forward stroke of the piston rod 186.

The slide 189 forms a connector for laterally spaced slip sheet removers 195 at each side of the support bar 181. The slip sheet removers 195 have arms 196 extending forwardly therefrom pivot-ally connected to the outer sides of the slide 189 on pivot pins 197. The slip sheet removers 195 have hollow lower end portions 199 having suction cups 2% on the lower ends thereof, in communication with the hollow interiors of the hollow lower end portions 199. Support arms 201 extend upwardly of the hollow end portions 199 and have follower rollers 282 on the upper ends thereof riding along cams 203, secured to opposite sides of the support bar 151 and extending therealong. The cams 293 form slidable supports for the slip sheet remove-rs 195, and have low portions 204 at the forward ends thereof, accommodating the suction cups 201 to drop onto the slip sheet of the ream, as the pusher 25 reaches the end of its forward stroke, and pushes a ream onto the magazine 25, to pick-up the slip sheet from the ream and remove the slip sheet upon return travel of the pusher 23 and return movement of the follower rollers 262 along the cam 203. The hollow interior portions of the slip sheet removers 195 on each side of the machine have connection with a source of vacuum through vacuum lines 2125. The vacuum lines 205 are connected with a vacuum pump 206, driven by a motor 207.

Each magazine 25 as shown in FIGURES l, 13 and 19 includes "an inclined bottom plate 297, and fixed and adjustable fences 269 and 210 respectively, extending along the sides thereof and forming side walls for the magazine. The bottom plate 297 has a plurality of air valves 211 therein, and including balls 212 projecting above the top of the plate 207 and biased into closed positions by springs 208 carried in cages 214- (FIGURES 20 and ,21). The cages 214 are threaded in a manifold 228, suitably connected with a source of air under pres-sure through a line 1213. As a ream of paper is pushed onto the magazine 25 by'a pusher 23 and rests on the balls 212, the weightof the ream will press the balls inwardly of the top surface of the plate 207, and release air jets. This Will provide an air film to float the reams downwardly along the inclined plate 207 and index the end ream into engagement with a fence 26, forming a stop therefor to accommodate the lateral ejection of the ream from the magazine, by the ejector 27,and index the next succeeding reams to follow the end ream, and come into position to be ejected upon ejection of the end ream.

The adjustable fences 210 are adjusted for different lengths of paper by operation of a hand. wheel 215 on the end of a transverse threaded shaft 216. The

threaded shaft 216 is journalled in bracket member 217, depending from an inclined top plate or table 218, in a bearing support 219. The table 218 is shown in FIG- URE ll as inclined in the plane of the bottom plate 207 of the magazine 25. A nut 22% secured to a rack 221 slidably guided in the bottom of the table top 218 is threaded on the threaded shaft 216. The rack 221 meshes with a pinion 222 (FIGURE 17) mounted on a shaft 223, journalled on the bottom of the table 218 on spaced bearing supports 224. The rack 223i abuts and is secured to a pusher rod 225 extending along the front of the table 222. The pusher rod 225 is connected with a stop 29 through a connector 226 extending through a slot 227.

The shaft 223 has three spaced pinions 222 mounted thereon. The pinion 222 at the front of the machine is driven by the rack 221 and rotatably drives the shaft 223 upon translational movement of the rack 221. The remaining pinions 222 mesh with individually racks 230 connected with pusher bars 23'1. One pusher bar 231 has spaced connectors 233 mounted thereon and extending through slots 235 in the plate or table 218 and having connection with the adjustable fences 210. The second pusher bar 231 has spaced connectors 236 connected thereto and extending upwardly through slots 237 in the table top 218 and having connection with the fences 210, to effect parallel movement of said fences to take care of diiferent lengths of reams, it being understood that when the fences of the magazine 25 are adjusted, that the adjustable stop 29 is also adjusted a similar amount, to v accommodate the ejection of two reams from the ends of the magazines 25 in a single operation of the ejectors The ejector 27 on the side of the machine which is shown in FIGURES l and 13 as being the left hand side i of the machine is adjustable in accordance with adjustment of the corresponding fence 21d and the adjust-able stop 29, while the opposite ejector 27 is not adjustable, adjustment being attained by adjusting the facing stop plate 29. The adjustable ejector includes a pusher plate 239 and a stop plate 24b extending at right angles to said pusher plate. The pusher plates 239 and stop plates 24!! respectively, are mounted on a horizontally extending adjustable plate 24-1. The adjustable plate 241, has a slot 24? extending therealong and has a channel 244 in The support plate 241 is f communication with said slot. partially recessed within a support plate 245 and the channel 244 is guided on a rib 246 on the support plate 245. A threaded rod 247 is threaded within the plate 245 and extends through a slot243 and has a clamping plate 249 mounted thereon, clamped into engagement with the plate 241, by the turning of a hand knob 252,.

threaded on the threaded rod 247.

The support plate 245 is mounted on a channel-like support 250, guided for movement along a slide generally indicated by reference character 251. The opposite ejector 27 also has a pusher plate 253 and a stop plate 254 extending at right angles with respect thereto. Said pusher and stop plates are mounted on a support plate 255 guided along the guide 251 (not shown).-

T' he means for moving the ejectors 27 along the table 218 is shown in FIGURES 17 and 18 as being a fluid operated motor 256 mounted beneath the table top 218 and having a motor shaft 257 having a crank 259 mounted thereon.

The crank 259' has a link 260 pivotally connected to the outer end thereof. The opposite end of the link 260 from the crank 259 is pivotally connected to a slide 261,

around a sheave 267 spaced outwardly of the table 218 and rotatably mounted on a horizontal shaft 269. The cable 266 turns about the sheave 26-7 and extends inwardly therefrom and is suitably clamped to the ejector 27, shown in FIGURES -1 and 13 as being the right hand ejector. From the right hand ejector 27 the cable 266 extends toward the left hand ejector over a sheave 271, under a sheave 273 to and around a sheave 274 at the left hand side of the machine and inwardly therefrom to the left hand ejector 27, to which it is suitably clamped. The endless cable 266 extends inwardly of the left hand ejector 27 over the sheave 273 and under the sheave 271 toward the connector 265.

The motor 256 may be operated by air or any other fluid under pressure, under the control of a solenoid operated valve 276, supplying fiuid under pressure to said motor to rotate said motor in one direction to move the two ejectors 27 inwardly toward the center of the table to eject two reams of paper, from the magazines 25 and in an opposite direction to return the ejectors 27 to the positions shown in FIGURE 1. It will be noted that the two ejectors 27 move inwardly together and also move on their return strokes together and that the stop plates 249 and 254 of the respective ejectors hold a next succeeding ream from being ejected from the magazines as one ream is being ejected from each magazine.

As the ejectors 27 have ejected reams from the magazines 25 and have moved the reams into engagement with the stop plates 29, the pusher plates 30' will then come into engagement with the two reams, to push the reams 011 the table 218 onto the conveyor 31. The pusher plates 30 are operated by a reversible fluid operated motor 277, mounted on the top of the table 218 and having a motor shaft 279 extending transversely of said table and extending from each end of the motor housing (FIGURE 119). Crank arms 280 are mounted on the opposite ends of the motor shaft 279 and extend rearwardly of the motor 277, when the pusher plates 3t are in their retr-acted positions. The crank arms 280 are pivotally connected to links 281 on pivot pins 283. The links 281 extend forwardly of the motor 277 between spaced connectors 284, extending rearwardly of a cross head 285. The cross head 28 5 is slidably guided on parallel spaced rods 286 extending longitudinally of the table 218 to the conveyor 31, and has generally cylindrical supports 287 extending forwardly therefrom and slidably guided on the rods 236, and having the pusher plates 30 connected thereto. The motor 277 is supplied with fluid under pressure, such as, air under the control of a solenoid operated valve 288, operable to operate said motor in one direction to effect movement of the pushers 30 in a pushing direction and to reverse the direction of rotation of said motor to return the pushers 30 to the positions shown in FIGURES .1 and '13.

Referring now to FIGURES 1, =19 and 22 and the use and operation of the device of the invention, the pusher 12, which may be in the form of a book gage, is manually operated and actuates i2). switch 290 as it pushes a block of paper to the trimmer knife '10. This will effect indexing of the wheel 15 into position to bring an empty pocket '13 into position to receive a trimmed block of paper. The trimmer knife will then fall. The trimmer block of paper may then be pushed into :an empty pocket 13. Indexing of the wheel 15 will also bring a block of paper therein into an upwardly extending jogging position and will bring a next advance block of paper into a horizontal discharge position, to be discharged onto the transfer table 17 by operation of the pusher 16.

As the whee-l 15 is indexed to a discharge position, the wheel will close a switch 291 to effect operation of the motor 95 in a direction to operate the ejector 16, to eject a block of paper from said transfer wheel onto the transfer table 17 and to push the block of paper into engagement with a switch 99. This will close the sun' tch 99 and effect operation of the motor 167 in a direction to operate the transfer car 20, to push a block of paper onto either of the elevating platforms 21 or 22, into engagement'with the respective switches 292 or 292a associated with the respective elevator platform. This will stop travel of the transfer car 21} and eifect operation of a solenoid operated valve 294 to supply fluid under pressure to the head end of an associated cylinder 107', and effect elevation of the associated elevator platform 21 or 22, for a first stage of elevation, and bring the block of paper 11 in position to be split by operation of the ream splitting pusher 23. Elevation of the elevator platform 21 or 22 to a first stage will actuate a switch 282 and supply fluid under pressure through a valve 193 to the head end of the cylinder 185, to effect pushing of half the block of paper onto the magazine 25 along which the paper will be indexed as it is buoyed up by the air film provided by the air jets passing upwardly through the valves 2 11. Photoelectric cells 295 and sources of light 296 are spaced along the magazines 25 to control movement of the reams therealong and to prevent operation of the ream splitting pusher when the magazine 25 is full of paper.

Upon the ejection of a ream into the magazine 25, a

. switch 297 operated by extension of the piston rod 186 to its fully extended position will etfect operation of the valve 193 to reverse the travel of the pusher plate 23. As the piston rod 186 moves on its return stroke, the associated slip sheet remover will engage and remove the slip sheet from the ream.

At the end of the return stroke of the pusher 23, the piston rod 186 will operate a switch 298. This will effect operation of the associated valve 299, to supply fluid under pressure to the head end of the associated cylinder 104 and raise the elevators 21 or 22 to a second position. The valve 193 will then be actuated to effect operation of the pusher plate 23 and efiect the discharge of a second ream onto an associated magazine 25. As the reams pass along the magazine 25, the end reams will contact the switch 299a. This will effect operation of the valve 276 to operate the ejector motor 256 in a direction to move the ejectors 27 to eject a ream of paper from each magazine against the stops 29 into position to be pushed onto the conveyor 31 by the pushers 30. As the reams engage the stops 29, a switch 360 will be actuated to effect operation of the valve 288 to operate the motor 277 in a direction to push the ream onto the conveyor 31. A switch .3111 in series with the switch 3011 is engaged by flights 362 of the conveyor 31, for synchronizing the ejection of the reams onto the conveyor in the spaces between the flights thereof. A switch 303 effects operation of the valve 288 to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor 277 and return the pushers 30 to the positions shown in FIGURE 22. This switch will also elfect return movement of the ejectors 27.

As one block of paper is pushed onto the elevator 21 by the transfer car 21 said transfer car will remain in the position shown in FIGURES l and 22 until a second block of paper engages the switch 99. This will effect a reversal in the direction of operation of the motor 167 under the control of suitable switches (not shown) and cause the transfer car to travel toward the elevator 22, to push a block of paper thereonto. This block of paper will then be split as previously described and discharged onto the conveyor 31. I

The straightening, inverting and discharge operations of the blocks of paper effected by operation of the wheel 15, together with the transferring and ream splitting operations may be substantially continuous operations, a supply of paper always being in the wheel 15 and the paper ejected from the wheel being alternately transferred to one elevator or the other and split into reams of uniform size.

It should here be understood that while certain control A said switches and the electrical connections to said switches and wiring to the various valves, for controlling operation of the various valves in the proper sequence, may be of various well known forms and are no part of the present invention, so are not herein shown or described further.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it should be understood that various modifications and variations in the invention may be attained without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts thereof as defined by the claims appended hereto.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus for splitting blocks of paper into reams and the like, an elevator, means for depositing a block of paper onto said elevator, a support means having a ream receiving end spaced above said elevator, means for raising said elevator to predetermined levels in stages, and a ream splitter for splitting a block of paper and pushing the split part of the block of paper onto said support means at a first stage of elevation of said elevator and pushing an additional part of the block of paper onto said support means at a second stage of elevation of said elevator, said ream splitter comprising a power operated pusher having a bottom surface substantially on a level with said support means for engaging the end of the block of paper at each stage of elevation thereof, suction means movable with said pusher, and means for moving said suction means to engage a slip sheet and remove the slip sheet from the block of paper upon each return stroke of said pusher.

2. In an apparatus for splitting blocks of paper into reams and the like, a transfer table for supporting a block of paper, means for depositing a block of paper onto said transfer table, an elevator at one end of said transfer table, a magazine leading from said elevator, said magazine having a ream receiving end spaced above said elevator, means for raising said elevator to predetermined levels in stages, and a ream splitter for splitting a block of paper and pushing the split part of a block of paper onto said magazine at a first stage of elevation of said elevator and pushing an additional part of a block of paper onto said magazine at a second stage of elevation of said elevator, said ream splitter comprising a power operated pusher having a bottom surface substantially on a level with said magazine for engaging the end of the block of paper at each stage of elevation thereof, suction means movable with said pusher, and means for accommodating said suction means to engage a slip sheet and remove the slip sheet from the block of paper upon each return stroke of said pusher.

3. In an apparatus for splitting blocks of paper into reams and the like, a transfer table for supporting a block of cut paper, means for depositing a block of cut paper onto said transfer table, an elevator at one end of said transfer table, a magazine spaced above said elevator and having a receiving end in alignment therewith, a transfer car for transferring a block of paper along said table onto said elevator, means for raising said elevator to predetermined levels in stages, a ream splitter for splitting a block of paper on said elevator into reams and pushing the ream of paper onto said magazine at each stage of elevation of said elevator, said ream splitter comprising a pusher having a bottom surface substantially on a level with the supporting surface of said magazine, cylinder and piston means for moving saiid pusher in pushing and return directions, suction means movable with said pusher, means accommodating said suction means to engage a slip sheet and remove the slip sheet from the block of paper upon return movement of said pusher, and control means for said pusher, actuated at each stage of elevation of said elevator. 1

4. In an elevating device particularly adapted to ele vate blocks of paper for separation into reams and the like, a transfer table, means for depositing blocks of paper of different thicknesses onto said transfer table, means for vertically adjusting said transfer table .in accordance with the thickness of the blocks of paper deposited thereon, an elevator forming a continuation of said transfer table, means for transferring a block of paper along said transfer table onto said elevator, means for elevating said elevator comprising cylinder and piston means, and linkage means connected between said cylinder and piston means and said elevator for adjusting the position of said elevator and the stroke of said cylinder and piston means in accordance with the position of adjustment of said transfer table.

5. In an elevating device particularly adapted to elevate blocks of paper for separation into reams and the like, a transfer table, means for depositing blocks of paper of different thicknesses onto said transfer table, an elevator forming a continuation of said transfer table, means for transferring a block of paper from said transfer table to said elevator, means for elevating said elevator into positions to accommodate the uniform splits ting of blocks of paper thereon and the discharge of V blocks of paper therefrom, comprising two fluid pres-. sure cylinders and pistons supporting said elevator, one

cylinder being movable and the other cylinder being stationary and each cylinder having a piston rod extensible therefrom, and means for adjusting the stroke of the piston rod of the movable of said cylinders in accordance with the position of adjustment of said transfer table with respect to the ground and the thickness of the ream deposited thereon, to effect the uniform splitting of a block of paper on said elevator upon vertical movement thereof, comprising a linkage connection between said transfer table and the movable of said cylinders for moving the movable of said cylinders an amount proportionate to the amount of adjustable movement of said transfer table.

6. An elevating device in accordance with claim 5, in a which the linkage connection includes a lever pivotally and move the movable of said cylinders a proportionate distance of the amount of adjustable movement of said transfer table.

7. An elevating device in accordance with claim 6,

wherein lost motion connections are provided between said links and opposite ends of said levers, to accommodate relative movement of the movable of said cylinders with respect to said links, upon vertical movement of said elevator.

8. In a means for splitting blocks of paper into reams and the like, a transfer table, an elevator, a magazine spaced above said elevator, pusher means splitting a block of paper on said elevator and pushing the split portion of the block of paper onto said magazine, means for depositing blocks of paper on said elevator adjustable in accordance with the thickness of the blocks of paper deposited onto said elevator, means for adjustably moving a said transfer table in accordance with the position of adjustment of said means for depositing a block of paper onto said transfer table, means for raising said elevator to predetermined levels toaccommodate the pushing of portions of the blocks of paper onto said magazine in the form of uniform reams comprising aligned fluid pressure cylinders and pistons, one supported above the other and having supporting engagement with said elevatoneach of said cylinders having piston rods extensible therefrom and one of said cylinders being vertically movable by extensible movement of the piston" rod of the other of said cylinders, and means for adjusting the stroke of the piston rod of the movable of said cylinders in accordance with the position of vertical adjustment of said transfer table and the thickness of the block of paper, comprising a linkage connection between said table and the movable of said cylinders for moving the movable of said cylinders a distance proportionate to the amount of adjustable movement of said table.

9. A means for splitting blocks of paper into reams and the like in accordance with claim 8, in which the linkage connection includes a lever pivotally connected to the movable of said cylinders, intermediate the ends thereof, a link pivotally connected between a stationary part and one end of said lever, a second link connected between said transfer table and the opposite end of said lever, and lost motion connections between said links and opposite ends of said lever accommodating vertical movement of the movable of said cylinders with respect to said links, to effect elevation of said elevator a second stage of elevation thereof.

10. In a machine for splitting blocks of paper into reams, a transfer table, a transfer car reversely movable along said transfer table toward each end thereof, elevator platforms at opposite ends of said transfer table and forming continuations thereof, for receiving blocks of paper transferred thereon by said transfer car, a paper block receiving magazine spaced vertically from each of said elevators in paper receiving relation respect thereto, means for raising said elevators equal distances to predetermined levels in stages, block splitting pushers having bottom surfaces substantially on a level with the supporting surfaces of said magazines associated with each magazine and movable over the top of each elevator to successively push blocks of paper of substantially the thickness of a ream from said elevators onto said magazine, and cylinder and piston means controlled by vertical movement of said individual elevators for moving said pushers over the tops of said elevators at the completion of a stage of elevation thereof.

11. In a machine for splitting and storing blocks of paper into reams for processing, a transfer table, an elevating platform at one end of said transfer table, means for transferring a block of paper along said transfer table onto said elevating platform, means for raising said elevating platform above said transfer table in stages for distances equal to the thickness of a ream of paper, an inclined magazine having a paper receiving end spaced above said elevating platform and in paper receiving relation with respect thereto, a paper block splitting pusher in association with said elevating platform and movable over the top of said platform toward and from said magazine for pushing a block of paper of the thickness of a ream from said elevating platform onto said magazine, means at the lower end of said magazine for retaining blocks of paper to said magazine and selectively movable to release blocks of paper from said magazine for further treatment, means for supplying air to flow upwardly through said magazine to provide an air film to float the reams of paper discharged thereon by said pusher downwardly along said magazine, to index the reams by gravity, means controlled by elevation of said elevator for moving said pusher across said platform to discharge a block of paper onto said magazine during each stage of elevation of said magazine and means associated with said magazine for preventing operation of said pusher when said magazine is full.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,596,386 Egge May 13, 1952 2,698,693 Nordquist Jan. 4, 1955 2,940,617 Reed June 14, 1960 2,983,236 Shields June 13, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,013,156 Germany Aug. 1, 1957 

1. IN AN APPARATUS FOR SPLITTING BLOCKS OF PAPER INTO REAMS AND THE LIKE, AN ELEVATOR, MEANS FOR DEPOSITING A BLOCK OF PAPER ONTO SAID ELEVATOR, A SUPPORT MEANS HAVING A REAM RECEIVING END SPACED ABOVE SAID ELEVATOR, MEANS FOR RAISING SAID ELEVATOR TO PREDETERMINED LEVELS IN STAGES, AND A REAM SPLITTER FOR SPLITTING A BLOCK OF PAPER AND PUSHING THE SPLIT PART OF THE BLOCK OF PAPER ONTO SAID SUPPORT MEANS AT A FIRST STAGE OF ELEVATION OF SAID ELEVATOR AND PUSHING AN ADDITIONAL PART OF THE BLOCK OF PAPER ONTO SAID SUPPORT MEANS AT A SECOND STAGE OF ELEVATION OF SAID ELEVATOR, SAID REAM SPLITTER COMPRISING A POWER OPERATED PUSHER HAVING A BOTTOM SURFACE SUBSTANTIALLY ON A LEVEL WITH SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR ENGAGING THE END OF THE BLOCK OF PAPER AT EACH STAGE OF ELEVATION THEREOF, SUCTION MEANS MOVABLE WITH SAID PUSHER, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID SUCTION MEANS TO ENGAGE A SLIP SHEET AND REMOVE THE SLIP SHEET FROM THE BLOCK OF PAPER UPON EACH RETURN STROKE OF SAID PUSHER. 